GCPC Alive and Well This Week!
|
|
Worship Preview | Sunday, June 7, 2020
Trinity Sunday
Graduation Sunday
Sermon:
"Therefore Go" by Samantha Gonzalez-Block
Scripture:
Matthew 28:16-20
|
|
Happy Graduation to our 2020 Senior High graduates!
GCPC will be celebrating and praying for our high school graduates during worship this Sunday.
|
|
Update your Zoom!
Zoom 5.0.3 is now live and older versions of Zoom will stop working on May 30th. Please be sure to update your zoom to the latest version.
|
|
If you are a part of a group, Team, or Circle at GCPC and you want to have a Zoom meeting, let staff know.
We will help you get set up on our GCPC Zoom account for group gatherings and meetings. You can schedule your meeting on the calendar with Sherrie, and any staff member can help you get set up for your meeting if you have questions.
|
|
ATTENTION! ATTENTION!
GCPC's Got Talent is getting an extreme makeover!
That's right!
We're planning a live Cabaret performance on Zoom at 6:00 p.m., Sunday, June 14.
Don't worry if you never got around to the talent show - now you can look forward to live on Zoom for your church family.
Want to sing or play a solo? Want to perform a magic trick, juggle, dance, or share pet tricks? Perform solo or with the whole family, act out a mini drama or share your gift of speaking in spoonerisms? The possibilities are endless (as long as you keep your act to 3-5 minutes!) We will accept enough acts to fill up one hour on Zoom so don't be shy and don't delay.
Send
Jeff
an email stating your desire to share a talent along with a brief description of what you'd like to do. All those participating will have a zoom rehearsal earlier in the week prior to June 14 and then we will gather with our church family online to share our talents on Sunday, June 14.
Mark your calendars and plan to join us!
|
|
GCPC 2020 PATCHWORK
QUILT OF GRACE
Well, so far this year has been one we will never forget. The year that EVERYHING stopped . . . and EVERYBODY’S life changed. We have never seen a Lent and Easter season such as this, and probably never will again.
With your help, GCPC would like to commemorate, document, and record this incredible year in the life of our church by creating, designing, and displaying our GCPC 2020 Patchwork Quilt of Grace. We are asking all of our members who can to take a 10”by 10” piece of quilting cloth, and create on there an image that shows us where you found grace during this time; where you needed grace; where grace found you. (There are many, many easy ways you could consider to do this. We will include many ideas with the “DIRECTIONS” that will come with your square of cloth. The main thing is to just be creative, and depict something that really speaks to how this crazy time has impacted you.)
Then, of course, we plan to gather all those squares together (This will be covered in “DIRECTIONS”) and commission the creation of our patchwork quilt of grace from those squares. We hope that this will result in a beautiful work of art that will commemorate this crazy time in the life of our church for years to come.
Please plan to add your own memory to this project. Here’s how:
- A drive-thru pick-up is happening at the church parking lot on Thursday, June 18th, and Friday, June 19th at 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. You may pick up your square of cloth, along with further instructions, directions, and helpful hints during those times.
- Complete your project to depict your picture of grace during this time by August 30th, and get it back to us according to the instructions in your packet.
- Contact person if you have questions or issues:
|
|
More Light Presbyterians
On June 7 we will celebrate More Light Sunday!
The day’s events will begin at 4pm (ET) with Worship, where we will all be blessed by the preaching of
Rev. Laura Cheifetz
and a worship service led entirely by LGBTQIA+ people.
At 7pm (ET) we will host a Streaming Release Party for
Out of Order
, followed by a panel discussion with the cast and crew of this groundbreaking documentary at 8pm (ET). The Out of Order documentary follows the lives of a group of LGBTQIA+ Presbyterians called to ministry as they navigate the ordination process and the delicate work of inclusion beyond policy change. Out of Order offers audiences a glimpse into what it looks like to navigate the reality of gender transition and lived sexual identity as a person of faith.
|
|
|
We're in this together...
Grace Covenant can help your stimulus check get to impacted families if you would like to share it with our larger community in that spirit. Some GCPC members have already sent theirs in and Marcia is confidentiality disbursing those to impacted families.
Thank you for your continued generosity. If you would like to participate, please put "Pastor's Discretion" in the memo line of your check and let
Marcia
and
Natalie
know that you are sending it for that purpose.
If you have questions, please contact
Marcia
.
|
|
Spiritual/Pastoral Support
|
|
Deacon of the Week
I
n this time of physical distancing, the deacons of Grace Covenant continue to be available to talk and pray with you by phone or online and to coordinate care. If you have difficulty reaching your assigned deacon or if you do not know who your assigned deacon is, please feel free to reach out to our deacon of the week.
|
|
Prayer List
[We are happy to pray for anyone who is in need. Concerns will stay on this list for a month unless we hear otherwise. Please keep us updated.]
Iglesia Jerusalem congregation
Pat Cocke (Les Stradley’s friend)
Marcia Zuzel (friend of Kim Hottle and Melissa Shook)
Eveline Damiano (Lisette de Groot's daughter)
Melissa Matherly Bowers (friend of Rick and Lynne Noble)
Jonathan Hettrick and family (friends of Mary Craig)
The Moore Family (friends of Jim and Martha Branden)
Anne Z. (friend of Jim and Martha Branden)
Nancy Hoyt Duncan (friend of Rick and Lynne Noble)
Sharon Meares (Moderator of Presbyterian Women in PWNC)
Deerfield Retirement Community
Ryan Lockett (nephew of Denise Lockett)
Hettie Lou Garland
Betty Smith
Margaret Rada
Bob Higgins
Cory Hartbarger
Florence and Steve Riedesel
Elizabeth Fisher
Doris Prak
Roslyn Carney
Dean Presson
Bill McNeff
Susan Smialowicz
Laura Ross
John Mount Shoop
Carol Kavalhuna
Carolyn Crew
Susan Holt
Bob Walther
We are glad to report that John Mount Shoop's surgery went well and he is back at home recuperating now. We ask for continued prayers for the family.
|
|
Summer Adult Education: "Beyond Belief" | June 7 - July 19 | Sundays | 9:15 - 10:15 AM via Zoom
|
|
Marcus Borg was among the most widely known and influential voices in progressive Christianity and internationally known in both academic and church circles. This summer, we will be delving deeply into his work and living in his questions about the possibilities of belief and action in our modern world. We will be meeting over zoom and utilizing "Beyond Belief," a new curriculum by "Living the Questions."
Facilitated by Tim Hamel.
Contact
Sherrie
for zoom information.
|
|
|
Deep Roots, New Leaves: Grace Covenant’s “At-Home Outdoor” Vacation Bible School | June 22-26, 2020 | Cost $25 / Child
Registration Deadline - June 14
Being physically apart is hard, but the Children’s and Family Ministries Committee has found a way for us to experience a week together
and
apart with
Deep Roots, New Leaves, Camp-In-A-Box!
The Ferncliff Camp & Conference Center in Little Rock, Arkansas has created this unique “camp-in-a-box,” designed for children in grades K-5th-ish. Each camp-in-a-box provides 5 days worth of activities that are screen-free (
except for a brief, daily 10:00 AM gathering on Zoom to jumpstart the day’s activities
). It is also meant to encourage outdoor activity and minimize demands on parents. We will start each morning together with the
scripture, music, skits and energizers focused on the theme for the day.
In this week-long experience, children will discover that God is always doing a new thing. While God offers stability and safety, like a tree’s deep roots, God is always working for good in each new moment, like a tree sprouting new leaves. The Bible provides many stories that reveal God’s ongoing creative presence in the world.
Each child will receive their own box with all they will need for the week.
Boxes will be available to be safely picked up at the church on June 18 and 19.
More details on pick-up procedures will be provided.
Registration deadline is quickly approaching on
June 14
, so register
HERE
. Cost for each box is $25. Contact Heather (
hferguson@gcpcusa.org
) for scholarship information or other questions.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*If your family is not able to participate during this week (June 22-26), you can still purchase a Deep Roots, New Leaves box to use anytime over the summer. Just go to the registration link (
HERE
) and indicate that you will not be present for the morning gatherings. You can use the resources whenever it is convenient for your family.
|
|
GCPC Family Story Time Weekly Gatherings
Each week children and families of Grace Covenant have two opportunities to gather on Zoom for fun activities and stories meant to stir the imagination and open hearts to God's amazing love in our world. During our time together, caring adults including Godly Play Storytellers, Blake Martin, Lynne Noble, Pat Durham, and Nursery Staff member Pearl DeBellott are present as a reminder that even though we are apart, we are still connected with our Grace Covenant Family. If you and your child would like to join one of the gatherings, please contact Heather Ferguson,
hferguson@gcpcusa.org
, to be added to the weekly email list.
|
|
PART
(Power & Race) Team Meeting| Thursday, June 11 | 6:15 - 7:30 PM | via Zoom
We will continue to explore having a PART steering committee. We also will continue to use the lens of eliminating characteristics of white supremacy to create a culture for PART that does not harm people.
|
|
GCPC Zoom Speaker Series | 7:00 PM | Every 4th Thursday |
June-August
|
|
- June 25 - Meta Commerse
- July 23 - Susanne Walker Wilson and Audi
- Aug. 27 - DeWayne Barton
|
|
Presbyterian Women’s Circles are Zoom meetings. Please join us.
Circle 1:
First Tuesday of each month, 10:00 a.m.
Circle 2:
First Tuesday of each month, 7:30 p.m.
Circle 3:
June 11, 7:00 p.m.
Circle 4:
First Thursday of each month, 7:00 p.m.
Circle 5:
First Monday of each month, 10:00 a.m.
|
|
C
ommunity Working Together
|
|
Important Announcement regarding Serve Funding
"During this time of pandemic, the GCPC Serve Council continues to be committed to being led by the Spirit to build mutually enriching relationships with Ministry Partners, as well as justly disperse funds shared by our congregation to impact our community and world. . . "
|
|
No Justice, No Peace.
Two teams at Grace Covenant, CST and PART, work to act in our larger community to address the injustices lived daily by black and brown people. This quote from
New York Times
Opinion Writer Roxane Gay speaks to the situation in which all people of color find themselves at this time:
"Eventually, doctors will find a coronavirus vaccine, but black people will continue to wait, despite the futility of hope, for a cure for racism... The rest of the world yearns to get back to normal. For black people, normal is the very thing from which we yearn to be free."
~ contributed by the Creating Sanctuary Team (CST)
|
|
Learn more with these resources:
- Anti-Racism Listening & Reading: A Google Doc, curated by Sarah Sophie Flicker and Alyssa Klein, listing books, articles, podcasts, films and organizations to follow to become better educated on racism and its effects.
- Building Bridges: Hosts two nine-week educational sessions each year focusing on black-and-white racism in Asheville, incorporating experiential learning and small groups discussion.
- Racial Equity Institute: An alliance of trainers, organizers and institutional leaders who help individuals and organizations develop tools to challenge patterns of power and grow equity
|
|
NC Poor People's Campaign
The Western Region Circle of the NC Poor People’s Campaign together with the YWCA of Asheville, are partnering with ABIPA and BeLoved Asheville to collect items for our neighbors in need in Buncombe County. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, we will sponsor Drive-By, Drop-Off on six days over the first two weeks in June.
Bins will be placed to accept donations of needed items. The first three days, June 1, 3 and 5, items will be collected for ABIPA for the care packages the organization is creating and distributing, and collections on June 8, 10 and 12 will go to BeLoved Asheville for distribution.
The process is contactless to protect our volunteers and donors. Please respect the process, since some of our volunteers are high-risk if they were to contract COVID-19.
Times and locations are as follows:
- Thursday, June 4: 6 to 8 p.m. in the parking lot of the Eddington Center, 133 Livingston St., Asheville
- Saturday, June 6: 10 a.m. to noon in the parking lot of the YWCA
- Tuesday, June 9: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the parking lot of the YWCA
- Thursday, June 11: in the parking lot of the Eddington Center
- Saturday, June 13: in the parking lot of the YWCA
Items needed are listed below, along with ways to donate money.
|
|
ABIPA
• Masks (We are in need of masks sized for children)
• Paper towels
• Toilet paper
• Clorox wipes
• Disinfectant Spray
• Dish washing liquid
• Laundry Liquid
• Bleach
• Water
• Alcohol
• Hand Sanitizer
• Vitamin C
Donations for ABIPA can be mailed to ABIPA at PO Box 448 Asheville, NC 28802
|
|
BeLoved:
• Cloth masks for families and essential workers
• Hand sanitizer
• Cleaning products: bleach, bleach wipes, bleach-based cleaning spray and Lysol
• Toilet paper and paper towels
• Laundry detergent and dish soap
• Shampoo and body wash
• Diapers/wipes
• Vitamins C and D
• Tylenol
• Gloves
• Flashlights and batteries
• Backpacks
• Kids art supplies and book, especially books that include themes/characters who are
African-American or Latinx (and books in Spanish)
• Laptop computers/tablets
BeLoved’s Cash App is $BeLovedAsheville and Venmo is @BeLoved-Asheville.
|
|
|
North Carolina Justice Center presents "Mountains of Hope"
Despite COVID-19's burden on our state, our mountain communities continue to be resilient and hopeful, and we at the NC Justice Center remain committed to our mission of
reducing poverty and building an economy where all families and communities can thrive.
We've teamed up with
BeLoved Asheville
and
WNC Workers' Center
for a special virtual conversation, and you're invited! You will not want to miss this unique online event. It promises to be a wonderful occasion, with like-minded folks sharing real stories of hope: neighbors and strangers supporting each other and finding solutions together.
Our conversation will share on-the-ground experiences, advocacy work, and uplift grassroots efforts across Western North Carolina. We will also include an update on the incredible work The NC Justice Center is doing on behalf of all North Carolinians.
Let us inspire you to join our cause and advocate for all North Carolinians!
The steering committee for this virtual conversation is:
Patsy Davis, Frank Goldsmith, Rev. Milly Morrow, and The Honorable Ray Rapp
When:
Wednesday, June 10, 2020, at 5:00 PM
Where:
Online; pre-register from the comfort of your home!
Cost:
Free!
|
|
Asheville GreenWorks |
Hard 2 Recycle Update | Saturday, June 27 | 10 AM - 2 PM | 1298 Patton Ave.
Asheville GreenWorks is happy to provide an adapted June Hard 2 Recycle event to the community. In order to keep our staff, volunteers, and community safe, we ask that you please follow
CDC
,
North Carolina
, and
Buncombe County
government guidelines when choosing to attend the event. We also ask that you wear a
face covering
, and maintain a 6 foot distance between yourself and others. If you are in the
high-risk category
, please stay home and limit your exposure to others. Remember, there are many other ways to recycle your items, throughout the year.
We will be accepting ONLY the following items on June 27:
- Scrap metal
- Electronics (including phones, computers, cords, etc)
- Batteries
- Tvs ($10 fee: card or check made out to Biltmore Iron and Metal Company)
- Styrofoam (no fee)
Please note that volunteers cannot unload vehicles at this event and are instructed to follow safety protocol. Participants will be expected to unload their own items, with staff on site to supervise and assist only as needed.
Please contact info@ashevillegreenworks.org or 828-254-1776 with any recycling questions.
|
|
YMCA Community Health June Updates
They are still offering FREE meals for kids 18 and under at a variety of sites throughout the summer in Buncombe, McDowell and Henderson counties. Please review the attached document titled "Free Meals for Kids" for locations and times. Kids do not not have to be present to get the meals.
Beginning June 1st they are moving back to their "normal" mobile market operations. Neighbors will be required to wait in line 6-feet apart, they are highly encouraging masks, and will provide hand sanitizer for all participants before they pick out produce.
In addition, they are continuing to offer the Diabetes Prevention Program VIRTUALLY to anyone in North Carolina for FREE. Please see the attached document for more information on how people can register. Classes are looking to start this week and beginning of June.
|
|
Community Garden Update
On Saturday team 4 harvested 49.5 lbs. of greens (kale, collards, chard) for Southside Kitchen. In addition, they planted tomatoes in row 6.
On Monday Rick Philipsen held a pesticide class for Judy, Paul, and Wade.
On Wednesday team 1 harvested just under 120 lbs. of cauliflower, collards, broccoli, Swiss chard, and kale. Rick tilled empty cauliflower beds, and Rick and Paul planted beans in rows 6 and 3. Irrigation system was tested and need for weeding identified. Judy reported tomatoes, peppers and eggplant are looking good. Okra and crookneck squash are "up" and doing well.
|
|
|
GCPC Diaspora
Dispatches from GCPC scattered around the globe
|
|
For me, the COVID-19 pandemic has been awesome at times, frustrating at others, and also sad. On the one hand, I miss going to church and youth group, hanging out with friends, and I'm pretty bummed that summer camps got cancelled. I think the worst part is hearing on the news about all the deaths and the terrible things that are happening and feeling helpless being stuck at home. But on the other hand, I'm thrilled with all the extra time I now have to pursue things I'm interested in, in addition to the school curriculum. We're fostering three kittens right now, and I've been doing a lot of cooking and baking. I organized my closet and got rid of a bunch of old junk. These are all things that I would never have the time or energy to do in a non-pandemic situation.
I also have a new appreciation for essential workers, especially healthcare workers and those on the front lines. The fact that they are risking their lives every day to keep people safe is just incredible.
For me, the pandemic hasn't been all that bad, but it's rough seeing what other people are going through.
~ Laurel Seddon, GCPC Middle School Youth
|
|
Thank you for your generous giving! Your gifts are enabling the church to continue our important work in our community. If you have not signed up for online giving, you can do that
here
.
You can also mail your checks to the church. Without you, the church could not continue its ministries in these difficult times. Thank you, again, for your generosity and your faithfulness!
|
|
Coming Soon: Mid-Year Pledge Check Ins
If you have a pledge and email address in our system, you will receive an email mid-June from
notifications@onrealm.org
with a link to view your pledge statement as of 5/31. Please take a moment to review your pledge, gifts applied, and balance if applicable for accuracy. If your situation has changed and you need to make changes, please contact Natalie Weaver at
nweaver@gcpcusa.org
.
|
|
Remote Giving & Paperless Statements
Did you know that you can make donations and receive statements online? Here are a few different ways to stay up-to-date on your pledge remotely:
- MAIL gifts to the office at 789 Merrimon Ave, Asheville, NC 28804
- BANK BILL PAY mails checks remotely, one-time or on a recurring schedule - contact your bank to set this up
- ONLINE at www.gcpcusa.org/ways-to-give - just click GIVE HERE
- SMARTPHONE with the Give+ Mobile App or by texting 828-266-0126 the amount you’d like to contribute
To sign up for
paperless statements
or if you have any questions, please contact Natalie in our Finance Office at 828-254-3274, ext 202 or
nweaver@gcpcusa.org
.
|
|
GCPC Out and About Online
|
|
June 2020
Virtual Enneagram Gatherings
Subtype Gatherings:
Sunday,
June 7,
1:30-3:30pm
Weekday Gatherings
Mondays, 6:30-8:30pm & Fridays, 10am-12noon
Topic: Relationships between different types
All are welcome; you can participate once or every week.
Basic knowledge of your enneagram type is suggested.
|
|
Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church | 828.254.3274
789 Merrimon Ave. Asheville, NC 28804
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
